Etymology
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convulse (v.)

1640s, "to shake or disturb by violent, irregular action" (transitive); 1680s, "to draw or contract spasmodically or involuntarily" (intransitive); from Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere (transitive only) "to pull away, to pull this way and that, wrench," hence "to weaken, overthrow, destroy," from assimilated form of com "with, together" (see con-) + vellere "to pluck, pull violently" (see svelte). Related: Convulsed (1630s); convulsing.

Entries linking to convulse

con- 

word-forming element meaning "together, with," sometimes merely intensive; it is the form of com- used in Latin before consonants except -b-, -p-, -l-, -m-, or -r-. In native English formations (such as costar), co- tends to be used where Latin would use con-.

svelte (adj.)

"slender, lithe," 1817, from French svelte "slim, slender" (17c.), from Italian svelto "slim, slender," originally "pulled out, lengthened," past participle of svellere "to pluck or root out," from Vulgar Latin *exvellere, from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + vellere "to pluck, stretch," from PIE *wel-no-, suffixed form of *uelh- "to strike" (source also of Hittite ualh- "to hit, strike," Greek aliskomai "to be caught").

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Definitions of convulse

convulse (v.)
make someone convulse with laughter;
The comedian convulsed the crowd
convulse (v.)
be overcome with laughter;
convulse (v.)
move or stir about violently;
Synonyms: thresh / thresh about / thrash / thrash about / slash / toss / jactitate
convulse (v.)
shake uncontrollably;
earthquakes convulsed the countryside
convulse (v.)
cause to contract;
The spasm convulses her facial muscles
convulse (v.)
contract involuntarily, as in a spasm;
The muscles in her face convulsed
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near convulse

convolute

convoluted

convolution

convolve

convoy

convulse

convulsion

convulsive

cony

coo

cooch

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